Kitchen backsplash cost in Bellingham, WA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $360 – $1,750
- Per sq ft
- $12 – $59
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +19%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #4
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Bellingham, WA usually costs $360 to $1,750 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $12 to $59 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $170 more. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $37.46 an hour in the Bellingham area, 40% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Bellingham, WA, standard level
$790 to $1,350
About $26 to $45 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $710 |
| Labor | $390 | $640 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $790 | $1,350 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Bellingham, WA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $550 | $950 | 52% |
| Labor | $210 | $520 | $830 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $360 | $1,050 | $1,750 | 100% |
Why Bellingham prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on tile and stone setters, who do 90% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $37.46 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Bellingham is 1.38 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 48% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Washington statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Bellingham is at 105.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $550 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 103.3: $0 to $0.
Data note: 90% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Bellingham. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in Bellingham
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Bellingham the blend is 1.38.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Bellingham metro, so we used the Washington statewide median: $37.46 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $30.33 and $46.80 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $35.22 an hour, 21% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $29.17 and $46.22 an hour. About 950 work in the metro. That is 104.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $120 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $90. That is a swing of roughly 8.4% to 11.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Bellingham has 91,390 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 217th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $30.33 | $37.46 | $46.80 | $26.77 | 1.40 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $29.17 | $35.22 | $46.22 | $29.12 | 1.21 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.38 | |||||
Is Bellingham cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 30 sq ft range from $1,000 to $1,150 across Bellingham and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WAthis page | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | |
| Bremerton, WA90 miles | $390 – $1,850 | $1,150 | +6% |
| Seattle, WA95 miles | $370 – $1,800 | $1,050 | level |
| Olympia, WA140 miles | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | −1% |
| Yakima, WA175 miles | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | −1% |
| Spokane, WA200 miles | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | −5% |
| Washington (statewide) | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −16% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Bellingham ranks #4 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Bellingham is 0% above the Washington figure.
Elsewhere in Washington
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $370 – $1,800 | $1,050 | level |
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | −5% |
| Olympia, WA | 130,300 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | −1% |
| Kennewick, WA | 129,490 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | −1% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | −1% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $390 – $1,850 | $1,150 | +6% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bellingham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $390 – $1,850 | $1,150 | +6% |
| Panama City, FL | 90,610 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −23% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | −14% |
| St. George, UT | 90,500 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −24% |
Why two Bellingham quotes can differ
Labor and minimums
Tile labor is $8-$20 per sq ft and many installers charge minimums for small areas.
Old backsplash removal
Removing the old one adds $2-$5 per sq ft.
Part of a remodel
A backsplash often gets bundled into a kitchen remodel and priced with it.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Bellingham
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Bellingham. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small kitchen (25 sq ft) to full-height (50 sq ft).
Basic
$360 to $930
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$790 to $1,350
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,200 to $1,750
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $300 – $770 | $660 – $1,150 | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $360 – $930 | $790 – $1,350 | $1,200 – $1,750 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $610 – $1,550 | $1,300 – $2,250 | $2,000 – $2,950 |
Related projects, priced for Bellingham
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Bellingham wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+30%) and kitchen remodel lowest (+10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $20,400 – $34,800 | +10% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,750 – $16,400 | +16% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $3,150 – $11,500 | +18% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,750 – $28,500 | +22% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,300 – $3,550 | +30% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $790 to $1,350 for Bellingham, WA is attached.
Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Bellingham, WA, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Bellingham, WA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Kitchen backsplash in Bellingham: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Bellingham?
For 30 sq ft, expect $360 to $1,750 in the Bellingham area. A standard-spec job lands at $790 to $1,350. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Bellingham?
About $12 to $59 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $50.
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in Bellingham or Bremerton?
Bremerton is 90 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $1,150, which is 6% more than Bellingham ($1,050). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bellingham?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $520 out of $1,050. Materials are 52% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Bellingham?
$360 to $1,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Bellingham?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Bellingham area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bellingham expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Washington?
Bellingham is 0% above the Washington statewide estimate ($1,050 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Washington; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Bellingham?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $37.46 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $30.33 to $46.80.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Bellingham?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $360 to $930 and premium work $1,200 to $1,750. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Bellingham
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: 2026 Backsplash Installation Cost (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's $5-$20 per sq ft labor figure, matched low-to-low and high-to-high.